Editorial

City Attorney to discuss restoring right to vote

Nationwide, an estimated six million individuals are disenfranchised because of their criminal backgrounds, even though over three-quarters of these individuals have completed their sentences, reports the Sentencing Project. This data, as well as the complex process of restoring voting rights in Tennessee, will be the topic of the June League of Women Voters meeting.

Chattanooga City Attorney Wade Hinton will speak about the restoration of voting rights and expungement of criminal records on June 8. The meeting will be on the fourth floor of the Chattanooga Public Library’s downtown branch, 1001 Broad St, at 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

More than 7 percent of the adult population of Tennessee is estimated to be disenfranchised as the result of a past criminal conviction, according to the Restore My Rights Initiative. This initiative, launched in 2016, is “a platform that assists individuals in navigating the process of restoring their rights to vote and having their records expunged,” says Vanessa Meachen, Hinton’s legal assistant.

The website (restoremyrights.com) includes a step-by-step guide as well as information on how to contact the city attorney’s office for help with the process.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political group that encourages active participation in government. Membership in the League of Women Voters is open to both men and women. The Chattanooga chapter of the League includes members from all across Hamilton County.